Breast protector



July 25, WW A. G. LEO ET AL. 9 9

BREAST PROTECTOR Filed Nov. 24, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ,M/vaw 6. LEO fl/fawmf 5. 771% W W@ A. c5. LEO ETAL zgwfizg BREAST PROTECTOR Filed Nov. 24, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZZa/ Patented July 25, 1950 UNITED BREAST PROTECTOR Arnold G. Leo and Theodore B. Tinker,

New York, N. Y.

Application November 24, 1948, Serial No. 61,828

4 Claims. (Cl. 2-42) The present invention relates to breast protector or breast prosthetic devices and has as 'one of its objects the provision of means for shaping a preformed device of the above nature so as to conform the same to the configuration of the body part to which it is to be applied.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means affording the positioning of the protector device, either directly on the body part or within a holder or brassiere to be applied to the body.

It is still another object of this invention to provide means facilitating introduction of air or similar fluid into a chamber of the protector device and to provide further means for closing the air chamber substantially instantaneously and without the employment of any metallic valve means.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a protector device of the aforesaid nature which is partly composed of sponge rubber and elastic rubber or rubber composition having different thicknesses of walls, whereby the walls of lesser thickness afiord shaping relative to other walls of greater thickness.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide means permitting air circulation around the protector device, in particular if the same is applied to a holder or brassiere whereby pressure of the same against the body part is reduced to a minimum.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide means ensuring a substantially firm position of the support or brassiere on the body, thus doing away, if desired, with holder straps for said brassiere.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protector device which may be used not only as a prosthetic but also as a therapeutic device for development of the bust and shaping thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a device simulating a breast, the dimensions of which may be regulated and which may be further provided with lateral extensions to replace muscles and/or body parts in the neighborhood of the breast, particularly in prosthetic cases.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide breast pads or similar devices having a substantially convexly shaped rear wall of relatively rigid plastic material and a relatively pliable or flexible front wall forming between said walls a chamber for a fluid, such as air, which may be inflated to a predetermined size.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a breast protector of the above nature in which no metal parts or separate plugs or other elements are employed but substantially plastic or rubber material.

A further object of the present invention is to provide valve means solely made from rubber or similar material which due to its flexibility is employed for opening and closing of the conduit for passage of air or similar fluid, said valve means being preferably integral with said conduit.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described and the combination and arrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawlugs and pointed out in the claims which form part of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary view, partly broken away, of a brassiere shown in rear elevation and having incorporated therein a simulated breast part made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is .a sectional view of the valve employed in this invention and shown in one position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, elevational view of the valve in another position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, sectional view of one part of a device simulating a breast made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 5 but in modified form.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to that of Fig. 5 in a further modified form- Fig. 8 shows a sectional view of a valve in modifled form employed in this invention and shown in operative position.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the valve of Fig. 8 and shown in inoperative position.

Referring now in particular to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 part of a brassire Ill having a cup H, side straps l2 and shoulder straps 13. Cup II is seen from the rear or inside thereof and having stitched at 14 along the inner edge 14a of the cup I I a lining l5 made from wide mesh gauze or similar material permitting' air circulation through its mesh. The inner edge iii of gauze lining I5 is folded upon itself (Fig. 2) to thereby obtain an air space between the inner wall ll of the outwardly curved cup II and the outer surface l8 of the lining l5.

Between the inner surface I1 and lining l5 there is arranged a receptacle 20 having an air chamber 19. This air chamber 19 is defined by a convexly shaped rear wall 2| and a front wall 22 to which reference is made further below. Rear wall 2| and front wall 22 are joined together along a joint 23 formed by the outer edges of the walls 2| and 22.

Receptacle 25, in this instance, is made from suitable rubber or rubber composition and terminates in a tubular end 24 int which extends a tubular member 25 which is fixed with its rearward end 25a within the interior of tubular end 24 and communicates with the interior or chamber I! of receptacle 20. The forward end 25b of tubular member 25 carries a ring-shaped rubber member 26 which is afllxed or vulcanized with its inner wall 21 to the outer wall of forward end 25b at 28 and to the adjacent part of said forward end 25b of tubular member 25, as can be seen in Fig. 3.

It will be easily realized that upon application of a suitable hand pump or other pressure producing means for introducing air or similar fluid into the chamber I9, such air willbe prevented from escaping from within said chamber by the employment of a valve in the form of a rubber ring 24, secured to tube 25. In order to close said valve bend 29 of tube 25 is forced through opening 30 of ring member 25, whereby the inner wall 21 comes to lie innermost and in contact with forward end 25b of an adjacent portion of tubular member 25, while the outer wall 3| of the ring member 26 is positioned outermost and encircles together with the inner wall 21 part of forward end 25b and its adjacent portion of tubular member 25, as can be seen in Fig. 4. Thus, tubular member 25 is so folded upon itself that escape of air from within the air chamber l9 will be effectively prevented.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, when the tubular member 25 is in folded over condition it will easily be housed within a pocket 32 which is stitched to one end portion of the' cup I I at 33.

Protector device 23 is inserted through opening 34 formed between an edge |a of lining l5 and inner wall II of cup II, which opening is located adjacent pocket 32 at one end of cup H and adjacent the center 35 of the brassiere I0.

Fig. 5 shows one form of protector device 20 having a forwardly extending and pre-shaped front wall 22 and rear wall 2|, the latter being less flexible than forward wall 22 which carries a thickened center portion 22a. Rear wall 2| is preferably made from rubber latex which is reinforced with an intermediate layer of coarse linen cloth or buckram 2|a, whereby the convex shape of rear wall 2| is substantially maintained.

Both said rear and front walls 2| and 22 are joined together along a joint 23 which may project into extension 23a of predetermined length to either cover removed body parts adjacent the breast or may be shaped to be directly applied to the body part to be covered. In some cases it may be preferred to have the extension 23a formed to provide a hollow circular rim in the form of suction cups (not shown).

At one end of the joint 23 walls 2| and 22 form a tubular end 24 with which is joined tubular member 25 carrying ring 25 and forward tubular end 25b, as hereinabove described. It will be realized that the inner chamber I! may be thus inflated whereby the forward wall 22 is extended and gives relatively to the rear wall 2| (which is relatively rigid and, if preferred, made from preformed cellulosic or other plastic material), whereby the chamber I! may be sumciently in- 4 flated and the shape of the wall 22 modified accordingly.

Instead of using sponge or similar cellular rubber material, the space taken up by wall 22 may also be filled with air or similar fluid and may form a closed chamber, as will be easily understood.

Fig. 6 shows a cross-section of a modified receptacle 20a having a front wall 22 with the thickened center portion 22a and a rear wall 40 preshaped and preferably reinforced by a layer of coarse linen cloth, buckram or similar stiffening material 40a. The inner chamber l3a of receptacle 20a may be inflated with air or other fluid through tubular end 24a in a manner similar to that described with respect to Figs. 1 to 5, inelusive? Extension 23a of receptacle 20a is provided with a recessed rim part 4| acting as suction means for direct application to body parts, as hereinabove mentioned.

Fig. 7 shows a still further modified form of a receptacle 20b having the forward wall 42 made of relatively thin rubber material with a thickened center portion 42a. A rear wall 43 is joined 7 together with said forward wall 42 along peripheral edge or rim 44. A partition 45 extends intermediate forward wall 42 and convexly shaped inner wall 43 and is also joined to these walls at rim 44 which is thus reinforced. This inner partition 45 is preferably made from rubber material and constitutes a relatively thicker wall than walls 42 or 43, partition 45 being reinforced by means of a buckram layer 45a, whereby the inner wall 45 is substantially biased and maintained in predetermined shape. At one end of peripheral rim 44,, there is further provided a tubular end 44a which communicates with and through which air may be supplied to an inflatable air chamber 46. A closed chamber 41 containing air or other suitable fluid of predetermined pressure is provided between rear wall 43 and intermediate wall 45. It will thus be readily realized that upon introduction of air or similar fluid into chamber 45, front wall 42 will assume a position and shape according to the desired size of the outer configuration of the simulated breast, whereas chamber 41 forms a cushion and/or holder to which chamber 45 is relatively displaceable.

If required chamber 46 may be connected either directly or indirectly with chamber 41 by means of a pressure operated flap valve (not shown), whereby air of predetermined pressure may escape from chamber 46 into auxiliary chamber 41. Instead of air or other fluid any suitable filler material (sponge rubber) may be employed which ensures pliability, shaping and maintenance of the desired form of the device.

It goes without saying that the device made in accordance with this invention can be applied to both breasts or to a part of the breast. The device hereinabove described and shown on the drawings indicates only a single artificial or simulated breast or breast protector. However, the brassiere can be employed with one or more breast-simulating devices, as will be well understood.

In Figs. 3 and 4 a contractible, ring-shaped valve 26 has been described which is spaced from the bend 29 of the tubular member 25. In Figs. 8 and 9 a modified form of the valve 5| has been been shown which is cap-shaped and which is vulcanized or otherwise secured to tubular member 50 along inner wall 52 of valve 5|. As can readily occur to be visualized from Fig. 8, as long as the capshaped valve 5| is forced into substantial alignment with tubular member 50 and tubular end 53, air or other fluid can be supplied therethrough. Due to the bias of valve 5| and upon release of tubular end 53 with respect to tubular member 50, valve 5| will force tubular end 53 in the direction of arrow A (Fig. 8) to assume a position as indicated in Fig. 9, whereby the bend 54 of the tubular member 50 will obstruct the passage therethrough.

Thus, air or other fluid contained in chamber H! or He or 46, as the case may be (and to which tubular member 50 is connected as hereinabove explained with respect to tubular member 25) is prevented from escaping from the chamber. This valve device which does not contain any metallic parts may, of course, be employed in connection with any other tubular structures and has been found in practice to give satisfactory results.

It can thus be seen that there has been provided according to the invention an inflatable receptacle, preferably made of rubber or similar plastic material, which has at least one chamber for accommodating air, fluid or other compressible substances therein, which chamber is defined by an outwardly curved front wall and a rear wall which is similarly curved but which is preferably reinforced so as to provide a sub-- stantially rigid wall structure to which the expansible front wall may be relatively displaced upon inflation of said chamber. Thus, the size of the breast-simulating device may be readily controlled.

If necessitated in prosthetic cases, the rear wall may be made from a cellular rubber structure or may include an auxiliary rubber wall spaced from the reinforced rear wall to form therebetween a closed air chamber which upon application to the body part forms a cushion without permitting deformation of the breastsimulating device (Fig. 7).

The aforesaid receptacle may be applied to a brassiere or held in position directly on said body part. In case of the employment of a brassiere, perforated or wide-mesh retainer means may be used to hold the receptacle in position within the cup of the brassire, whereby air circulation is ensured between the receptacle and the body part to which the brassiere is applied.

Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be distinctly understood that various modifications and adaptations of the arrangements herein disclosed may be made as may persons skilled in the art without constituting a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the objects and in the appended claims.

Havin thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a brassiere having a cup with an inner circumferential edge, an inflatable receptacle for position in said cup, wide mesh retaining means secured to said edge of said cup and providing an opening at one side of the latter between said edge and said retaining means, whereb said receptacle may be inserted through said opening for position in said cup, said receptacle being provided with a conveXly curved and relatively rigid, reinforced rear wall to maintain its shape, said rear wall having a peripheral edge, and an extensible front wall, said front wall being connected to said peripheral edge of said rear wall and being spaced from the latter, said valve means extending from said peripheral edge and facilitating introduction of a fluid into said space between said front wall and said rear wall where by said front wall will be moved forwardly of said rear wall and be swingable relatively to the latter.

2. An inflatable receptacle providing a bust form comprising a substantiall convexly curved and reinforced rear wall to be placed over the breast of a person and terminating in a peripheral edge, a front wall projecting forwardl of and from said edge of said rear wall and normally spaced from the latter to form a chamber therebetween, said rear wall being relatively rigid with respect to said front wall which is extensible,

and means positioned at said peripheral edge and facilitating filling the space between said front wall and said rear wall with a fluid whereby said front wall may be displaced and formed forwardly of said rear wall and for movement of said front wall relatively to said rear wall.

3. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein said valve means includes a contractible ringshaped member made of the same material as the front wall of receptacle.

4. In combination, a brassiere having a pair of breast cups, at least one inflatable bust-forming receptacle for position in one of said cups and provided with an outwardly curved front wall and a similarly preshaped and stiffened rear wall to substantially maintain the shape of the latter, said front wall being expansible relatively to and forwardly of said rear wall, whereby upon inflation of said receptacle said front wall mav be conformed to the shape of said cup, perforated means retaining said receptacle in position in said cup and ensuring air circulation between said receptacle and a body part to which said brassiere is applied, and valve means associated with said receptacle and made from the same material as that of said expansible front wall to effect opening and closing Of the passage of fluid to and from said receptacle.

ARNOLD G. LEO. THEODORE B. TINKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Hart Feb. 24, 1948 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,516,129 July 25, 1950 ARNOLD G. LEO ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 4, line 73, strike out the word been; column 6, line 10, for said before valve read and;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of March, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

